{UAH} France Mourns Nelson Mandela

The death of this great world leader and hero has very much upset

the entire French nation, a place where he was so popularly loved!

It almost coincides with the Elysée Summit  which is assembling many

African heads of state around French President  François Hollande to

discus many issues relevant to the continent's politico-economic problems, etc..

Before opening the proceedings Hollande, standing before the giant Mandela

portrait specially placed in the Elysée palace, called for a minute of silence in 

order to honour the memory of the deceased world hero. And indeed President Hollande

will fly to South  Africa to attend the funeral, just as many French nationals will do!

Mourning in the country is very widespread and touching! Flags on public buildings

have been kept at half-mast in all parts of the country  At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

( the Quai d'Orsay ) Mandela's portrait hangs outside the building on a maxi-screen. 

French TV and other medias are paying a special tribute to the hero in endless feature 

programmes. Leading national figures have appeared on TV to pay tribute to the man their

country so much respected for his wonderful high degree of integrity! Among those featured

were Mr Alain Juppé ( former premier), Ms Rama Yamade ( a Franco-Senegalese former Minister

in Nicolas Sarkozy's government ), Ms Taubira ( Minister of Justice ), Mr Galavany ( former Sarkozy Minister),

Mr Vedrine ( former Minister of Justice ), Alain Désir ( Secretary General of the ruling Socialist Party ), 

Mr Passat ( President of the International Rugby Union ) who was a personal friend of Nelson Mandela,

and so many others!

While at the same time messages of condolences and bouquets of flowers from all over the country were

amassing at the Embassy of south Africa in Paris!

And night vigils are going on all over the country to recall and praise the memory of Nelson Mandela!

And there are also reported touching tributes from the ordinary people. All express deep sorrow and

qualify Mandela as an exemplary model statesman who has won all hearts. Many have pointed on his

brief stay in power ( only five years ) in order to give a sharp example to the continent! This was a man

who would have continued to rule until death if he had based his reasoning on the fact that he fought for many

years and went in prison for 30 years and after prison he continued fighting until he freed his country from the

silly yoke of apartheid. He had indeed good justification to be life president but his very much advanced 

perception on democracy, nationalism and patriotism as well as his love for this country and its people threw

him to a different spectrum that saw him become an instant African hero looking at politics and power in an

aspect of perfect integrity which is now proudly accompanying him to his grave as a spotless nationalis who had no greed for power, money and any senselessly accumulated wealth!

It's this humility which has always acted as an added value to his prestige all over France where there are now

innumerable streets, schools, libraries, centres of learning, etc named after hjim! One can't correctly guess the

number of colleges, for example, named after Nelson Mandela, including the famous Parisian one whose students openly abhor racial discrimination and chant reconciliation! Mandela has won many of the young

generation to his sense of wisdom! I wish African leaders copied him Africa would be miles ahead of what it

is today, a somewhat dull place where we have leaders who think mainly about their personal interests and care

less about serving wholeheartedly their people and the institutions!!

Persons who have willingly suffered for their country and institutions are now the ones winning all hearts in our Africa! Courageous statesmen as Mandela, Benedicto Kiwanuka, etc  that have offered to suffer and even die in defence of a principle are the only ones the world will venerate on behalf of sensible Africa !

Look at the glowing tribute the Pope has sent to South Africa on learning Mandela's death! Other world leaders

including Obama, the Queen, President Hollande, the Dalai Lama, etc have also sent touching messages to greet the memory of one who when still in prison had force to assemble 80,000 demonstrators in Paris all chanting for his release and apartheid began trembling untill it finally collapsed and vanished into this air.

A great man is always a winner whether in life or in death because his virtues are there to speak and act for him.

It's because of this that Mandela is now as popular in death as he was in life.

May the Almighty Good God bless his soul and give him that very well-deserved eternal rest in Heaven!

Dr G.H. Kkolokolo  ( Paris / France )